Xoloitzcuintli Dog Breed Information

An ancient breed, the Xoloitzcuintli, or Xolo, has been a companion and protector to humans for thousands of years. Xolos were revered for their ability to heal, soothe and guard against illness and danger. Today, the intelligent and hardy Xolo is prized as a quick learner, competition enthusiast and an ideal pet for pet allergy sufferers. The overwhelming majority of Xolos have little to no hair, making them relatively easy to care for. Their friendly nature and drive to follow and protect humans makes them good family pets.

  1. History

    • The Xolo is the oldest breed of dog in North and South America. Introduced into the New World by Asian peoples crossing the Bering Strait over 3,000 years ago, the hairless Xolo became a favorite of the Mayans, Toltecs and Aztecs. Xolos were kept as guard dogs, companions and healers. Little breed development was done over the centuries so the Xolo remains almost identical to its ancestors. Though the Xolo was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1887, interest in the breed declined after the 1950s. In the early 21st century, the Xolo became popular again and has been accepted back into the AKC registry as a non-sporting breed.

    Appearance

    • The most striking features of the Xolo are its lean muscular body, bat-like ears and lack of hair. Most people call the Xolo dog a "Mexican hairless," but one out of five Xolos has fur, according to dogbreedinfo.com. Xolos come in three sizes: standard, miniature and toy. The hairless variety has smooth, silken skin and the coated variety has a short, hard coat like the Doberman. Either type can be of almost any color, but are typically black.

    Temperament

    • Xolos are classic pack animals, ready to follow a strong leader. If a Xolo is not taught to be a follower, it will take over the leader role or attach itself to the obvious pack leader, whether that is a person or another dog. They keep close to humans and are friendly to strangers if socialized early. The Xolo is a very intelligent dog and performs well in agility, obedience and canine citizenship trials. Extremely energetic as a puppy and adolescent, the Xolo becomes a calm, well-behaved adult if properly trained.

    Function

    • The hairless type of Xolo has been used for thousands of years to heal the sick and elderly. Because it has no hair, this dog radiates heat and warms cold beds and arthritis sufferers. Ancient civilizations believed the Xolo had mystical powers to both heal and protect people from predators and evil spirits.

    Health

    • The Xolo has no recognized breed-specific problems. This might be because this dog has not been bred excessively like many popular dog breeds. The Xolo's skin does need care since it has no hair to protect it from cold or extreme heat. However, over-washing or medicating a Xolo can cause skin problems such as drying. Use gentle bath products like baby shampoos and lotions on Xolo skin. Apply sunscreen to a Xolo as you would to a young child in excessive sun. Be cautious, though, as sunscreen can block pores and inhibit the Xolo's natural skin oils.